Q: Toyota outsells Ford in the US?

A: No surprise there. Japan’s Toyota overtook Ford in the US car giant’s home market in October. Toyota’s best-ever US monthly sales figures saw it selling 197,592 vehicles last month, ahead of Ford’s 195,462 vehicles sold. Ford continues to lead the US car market in annual sales, with 2.5 mln vehicles sold last year against Toyota’s 2.2 mln figure.

The US car market remains tough for all players, with the housing slump and high oil prices hitting sales. October marked the end of a three-month run of declining US sales for Toyota. Ford said cuts in low-margin sales to car rental firms masked strong demand for its more profitable range of sports utility vehicles.

问：丰田在美国的销量超过福特？

答：这一点不令人意外。10月，日本丰田在美国汽车制造巨头福特的本土市场击败后者。上个月，丰田的销量为197,592辆，这是该公司在美国创下的最高月销量，对比福特为195,462辆。在年销量方面，福特继续领先美国汽车市场，去年销量达250万辆，对比丰田为220万辆。

由于楼市疲软，油价高企，汽车销售遭受打击，美国汽车市场处境艰难。10月，丰田扭转了连续三个月美国销量下跌的情况。福特表示，由于减少对租车公司的低利润销售，影响了市场对其高利润运动型多功能汽车的强劲需求。

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Q: China to hike airline fuel surcharge?

A: That’s right. It starts today, Nov. 5. China will allow its domestic airlines to increase fuel surcharge to offset the pressure of oil price hikes on the aviation industry. The passenger fuel surcharge will be raised from CNY50 (US$6.7) per passenger for flights within 800 km to CNY60. For long haul flights, the fee will rise from CNY80-100.

The newly approved surcharges will take effect from today, according to a joint circular issued by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the country’s economic planner, and the General Administration of Civil Aviation (CAAC). The government’s decision to raise prices of gasoline, diesel oil and jet kerosene by CNY500 per ton from this month boosted fuel expense, which already accounted for 44% of the total cost in September, said sources with CAAC.

According to Citic Securities, based on its analysis in 2006, when the oil price climbs CNY100 per ton, the net profit will be reduced by CNY220 mln for China Eastern Airlines, CNY250 mln for China Southern Airlines and CNY180 mln for Air China. Fuel surcharge is a type of aviation tariff which requires the approval of relevant aeronautical authorities before it could be levied.

问：中国上调航空公司燃油附加费？

答：是的。从今日（11月5日）开始，中国允许国内航空公司上调燃油附加费，以减缓油价高涨对航空业带来的压力。乘客燃油附加费将从每位乘客（航程不超过800公里的航班）人民币50元（6.7美元）上调至人民币60元。如果是长途航班，该费用将从人民币80元上调至人民币100元。根据中国经济规划机构国家发展和改革委员会（NDRC）和中国民用航空总局（民航总局）联合发布的公告，新批准的燃油附加费从今日起生效。

民航总局的消息人士透露，政府决定从本月起将汽油、柴油和航空煤油的每吨价格上调人民币500元，此举导致燃油费用增加，而在9月，燃油费用已经占到总成本的44%。中信证券表示，根据其2006年的分析，如果油价每吨上涨人民币100元，中国东方航空的纯利将减少人民币2.2亿元，中国南方航空为人民币2.5亿元，中国国航为人民币1.8亿元。燃油附加费是一种航空收费，需要取得相关航空部门的批准方可征收。

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Q: Japan wants to open up its regional airports?

A: Japan plans to open up its regional airports to foreign airlines in an effort to increase the flow of tourists from Asia and enhance local economies, the Transport Ministry said. Japan will ease restrictions over its air routes, allowing foreign carriers to launch services quickly without having to negotiate landing rights, the ministry said in a statement.

The plan comes amid efforts by the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to intensify regional cooperation by liberalising their individual air and maritime transport sectors. Japan has set a goal of drawing 10 mln foreign visitors to Japan by 2010, nearly double the figure in 2003. Last year, a record 8.1 mln foreigners visited Japan, according to the government. A private national tourist organisation said that 4.98 mln came for tourism.

Japan hopes to channel tourists from its traditional hubs of Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya to outlying cities including Sapporo in the north and Fukuoka in the south to improve regional economies. Despite increased air routes, visitors may have to wait longer to enter the country once on Japanese soil as immigration officials prepare to take the fingerprints and photographs of all incoming foreigners under stringent new security measures later this month.

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问：日本有意开放地区机场？

答：运输省表示，日本计划向外国航空公司开放其地区机场，以提高来自亚洲的游客流量及促进地方经济。运输省在一份声明中称，日本将放宽航线管制，允许外国航空公司快速推出服务，而无需协商起落权。日本提出此计划，是因为由10个成员国组成的东南亚国家联盟（东盟）致力于透过开放各自的航空和海上运输领域以加强地区之间的合作。

日本设立的目标是在2010年前吸引1,000万外国游客前来日本，该数字几乎是2003年的一倍。政府透露，去年，来日本的外国人士创记录地达到810万。一间私营全国旅游机构表示，其中498万是游客。日本希望将游客从东京、大阪和名古屋等传统枢纽引导至偏远城市，包括北部的Sapporo 和南部的Fukuoka ，以改善地区经济。根据本月晚些时候实施的严格的新保安措施，入境官员准备取得所有入境外国人士的指纹和照片，因此，尽管航线增加，游客可能必须等待更长时间才能进入日本。

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